Improvement in railroad switches



J. R. ADAMS.

Railroad Switches. No. 138,834. Paienredmaywsnan f w i @Humana PATENT GFFIGE.

JOHN R. ADAMS, OF SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN RAILROAD SWITCHES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 138,834, dated May 13, 1873; application filed March 15,1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R. ADAMs, of Sacramento, in the county of Sacramento and State oi' California, have invented a new and 'improved Railroad Switch, of which the following is a specification:

Figure l is a plan view ot' my improved switch; Fig. 2, a longitudinal side view of the same; and Fig. 3, a vertical transverse section on the line c c, Fig. l.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

rlhe object ot' my invention is to construct a switch-connection which avoids the disadvantages resulting from the expansion and contraction oi' the switch-rail at dierent temperatures, causing either a too close contact, so as to prevent the working of the rail, or a too wide opening, so that the battering ot' the ends ot' the rails necessitates their replacement. My invention consists in the arrangement of an inverted rail vunder the switch-rail, connected and pivoted to it at one end, and the extension ot the lower inverted rail under a rest-plate to the track-rails, to which the same is also rigidly connected, producing an eXpansion and contraction in such a manner that the switch-rail is always equidistant from the track-rails, and no interruption of the working of the switch or battering of the rails is possible.

In the drawing, A represents the switchrail, which is'connected at one end, a, rigidly to the inverted rail B, placed vertically below it. The cross-ties are cut out in such a man ner that rail B passes free-ly through them. Any worn-out rail may be used for this purpose, the bed-plates b between rails A and B, on the cross-ties separating them, allowing an easy gliding of the switch-rail A on them. The connection at end ct of rails A and B is made by bolts in such a mannerthat rail A pivots freely sidewise, but expands or contracts equally vwith rail B in the longitudinal direction of the rails. Switch-rail A communicates at its other end, d, with the track-rails C, by means of suitable lever connection moving on a bed-plate, D, as a substitute for the heavy cast-iron blocks. the cross-ties and gives a more elastic support to the switch-rail, preventing thereby the anvil-like resistance and quick wear of the same. The track-rails C also rest on bed-plate D, and are rigidly connected with it. Inverted rail B passes below'plate D under the middle rail C, being iirmly applied to plate D and rail C by bolts or otherwise, producing thereby an equal expansion or contraction of the trackrails C with it, and an unobstructed working of switch-rail A at every temperature. The distance of the end d from the track-rails C remains always the same, and permits, therefore, the switch-rail A to keep the sameposition in regard to the connecting track-rails C.

Accidents, caused by the insufficient working of the switch, by expansion and obstruction, and too quick wear of the rails in consequence of contraction, may, therefore, be obviated by the use of my switch arrangement.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- l. The connection of switch-railA, pivoted at end a, with inverted rail B, laid into the cross-ties and separated by lateral bed-plates b, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of inverted rail B with connecting bed-plate D and track-rails C, for the purpose ot producing equal expansion and contraction, substantially as described.

JOHN BESGO ADAMS.

Witnesses:

G. HAINns, FRANK SWIFT.

Bed-plate D rests on y 

